IIT Madras Allows BTech Students to Exit with BSc

• BTech students may exit early with a BSc after 250 credits.
• A BSc allows higher studies, civil services, and online program options.
• Semester credit reduction eases academic stress under NEP reforms.

Students are facing challenges in completing B.Tech. Degrees at IIT Madras will now have the option to exit with a BSc degree after three years, as long as they obtain 250 credits from the total of 400.

Students from the 2024 batch can take advantage of this option starting in 2027. The institute is set to offer it to senior students starting this academic year. However, these students ought to have attempted to finish the degree at least once before choosing the BSc degree.

"We are planning to offer a BSc degree with specialisation as well. Each department will specify the number of core credits required for specialisation," Professor Prathap Haridoss, dean (academic courses), IIT Madras. "This BSc degree will help students to join higher education, including MBA, and appear for civil services. Those who exit also later join in our online BS degrees as well," he added.

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Students who enroll without enthusiasm for the subject also find it challenging to finish their degrees. Some also exit their course after starting their own businesses. "This option will help such students get a degree," the dean stated. Facilitating various entry and exit points to degree programs is one of the primary features in the National Education Policy (NEP). IIT Madras implemented various reforms, such as reducing the minimum credits needed each semester by 10% to alleviate academic stress for students.

"A student can easily earn 66 credits in a semester. But we have lowered the minimum number of credits required in a semester to 50 credits. Students with higher CGPA will be allowed to do more credits in a semester," Haridoss said.